ABOUT THIS SECTION
Our 50th Reunion, held in early August 2007, was our last "BIG" reunion. However, there were three picnics where a class was "expected" to attend (if they can). These are the "Three-Class Alumni Reunion Picnics" and for us, would occur in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
We, who could, have attended those picnic for two years; (we were the honored guests at the 2007 picnic, we hosted the 2008 event, and we had looked forward to attending the 2009 Alumni Picnic.
However, as of 04-30-09, we have learned that the Class of BHS-59 is having a potluck picnic at Blue Canyon, just for themselves. The class of BHS-58 is NOT hosting a picnic for the Class of BHS-59. (And, the class of BHS-57 is not invited.)
This section provides photos and information about our involvement in the BHS Alumni Reunion Picnics of the two years (2007 and 2008).
Some pictures taken by Ed Anderson at the 2007 picnic are on this web site (see the Page 2 link below); some pictures taken by Roger Dollarhide at the 2008 picnic will be added here (on Page 3) as soon as time and space permits. Also, David Crook may already have some or all of Roger's pictures on his personal photo web site at http://picasaweb.google.com/Pastordbc
Note: David has also collected school pictures from grade schools and junior high schools that Bellingham classmates attended. See those on his web site.
Links to the Page 1 items are below:
See Page 2 for 2007 BHS Alumni Picnic pictures taken by Ed Anderson.
See Page 3 for 2008 BHS Alumni Picnic pictures. (NO 2008 PICS RECEIVED YET)
The "BHS Three-Class Alumni Reunion Picnics" are usually held for three BHS classes (but in 2007, four classes were invited - and some people from other classes also attended. (One woman from the Class of 1949 has attended Alumni Reunion picnics most years since her class's first picnic.).
These picnics have been held at the Bellingham High School for many years. In 2007, our Class of 1957 was involved for the first time. This is because the "honored" class is the one having their own 50th Class Reunion, and we had ours that year (2007).
The summer of 2008, our class "hosted" (did the organization work) for this annual event, and it was reported that the picnic was a great success for all who attended.
Next year (summer of 2009) we expect be invited to attend our third Alumni Picnic event which is supposed to be hosted by the Class of 1958 to honor the Class of 1959's 50th Reunion. (Watch this section for news of that year's event.)
The Alumni Reunion Picnic is usually held on the Sunday of each class's 50th Reunion weekend, so the class holding its 50h reunion chooses the date of the BHS Alumni Reunion Picnic. Watch this web site section for the 2009 picnic date and other pertinent information.
Historically, it generally works like this:
In 2007: Picnic hosted by BHS-56 for Class of 1957 (for classes: 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957)
In 2008: Picnic hosted by BHS-57 for Class of 1958 (attending classes: 1956, 1957, 1958)
In 2009: Picnic hosted by BHS-58 for Class of 1959 (attending classes: 1957, 1958, 1959)
So, for three years in a row (2007, 2008, and 2009), we can attend the Alumni picnics and visit with people (perhaps even siblings) that we've known from other BHS classes during our three high school years. The Alumni Reunion Picnic "host class" is the class that graduated one year prior to the class holding their 50th reunion.
Note: Tell all your "old school" friends about this: At our picnic reunions, the Class of 1957 wants to visit with any classmate "our age" who ever attended any Bellingham school (elementary, junior high, or any of our high school years: 1955, 1956 or 1957) with us.
We all are "Class of 1957" people who grew up in Bellingham and learned things together. So, if someone attended some school with us, but didn't actually graduate with us at BHS in 1957, we invite them to come to our 2008 Alumni Reunion Picnic and have fun visiting, eating, perhaps touring the remodeled high school, and also viewing our BHS-57 "Wall of Photos" pictures as well as other classes' photos that may be displayed.
For the 2008 picnic, our Class of 1957 Alumni Reunion Picnic Coordinator, Buck Edwards (and his helpers) did an excellent job of the up-front planning - getting the 50th Reunion weekend date from the 1958 Class Coordinator, arranging for the picnic location, tables, chairs, PA system, caterer, determining the picnic cost per person, sending out the registration forms, etc.
The reservation form was also available on this BHS-57 web site as a PDF file, so BHS-57 classmates who needed/wanted extra copies could download it from the PDFs FILE DOWNLOADS section. Next year, the 2008 Alumni Picnic form will be replaced by the 2009 Alumni Picnic form.
Darla Mesford O'Malley helped Buck by printing name tags for the Class of 1957 picnic attendees; those were given to registrants at the check-in table on the morning of the picnic on September 7th. (Other Class Coordinators did the same for their class.)
John Tiscornia with the help of Garey Vodopich help did a great "last minute" job of setting up the BHS-57 "Wall of Photos" which was stored in Bellingham after the 2007 picnic. The "Wall" was enjoyed by all at the 2007 and 2008 picnics.
Check-in time for the 2008 picnic was 11 AM - however people involved in setup arrived earlier.
3. SUMMER 2008 PICNIC - SUMMARY INFO
BHS-57 2008 PICNIC COORDINATOR: BUCK EDWARDS (no email; ph: 1-360-734-1777)
DATE: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2008
TIME: SETUP: 10 AM; ATTENDEES: 11 AM to 3 PM (lunch served from Noon to 1:30 PM)
PLACE: COMMONS area of Bellingham High School (on Cornwall Avenue in B'ham)
CATERER: Kelly's O'Deli (serving sandwiches, salads, cookies, soft drinks)
PICNIC PRICE: $15 per person
REGISTRATION FORM: Mailed to BHS-57 classmates in April; also on BHS-57 web site
4. REGISTRATION DEADLINE
The DEADLINE to register for the 2008 picnic was August 1st, but some late registrants were allowed to register after that deadline. Buck said the caterer was "somewhat flexible."
Be sure that your contact info is kept current so you can be notified about future events.
Note: If your postal mailing address ever changes, please let Buck Edwards know your new address info ASAP. (Call 1-360-734-1777 or write to him at his postal address in the 2007 Memory Book; he has no email.)
Note: If your email address ever changes, be SURE to let Marilyn Moir Coughran know so you'll receive the (monthly?) "Web Site Update Notice" emails. Send email to Marilyn .
5. WHERE TO STAY - HOTELS? RV PARKS?
"Long distance" classmates who need to reserve hotel or RV Park space should do that ASAP. With a September date (and schools being in session then), Buck believed we shouldn't have much problem finding hotel rooms or RV space. Therefore, no "designated hotel" with a Group Rate has been arranged for out-of-town BHS-57 classmates going to Bellingham for this year's Alumni Picnic reunion.
(For PDF file,
click the hotel.)
If you DO need a place to stay, you might check the list of hotels I made in 2007 for our own 50Th reunion. Click the "hotel" graphic at the left; print and review PDF file that comes up, then call the hotel of your choice for their space/rate details.
CLICK HERE to see who signed up
This list was last updated with info from Buck on 08-30-08. Several late-comers have registered, so check out the pop-up list.
(Names in red on the pop-up were added in the 08-30-08 update.)